Envisioning an Africa free from hunger, poised to feed the world.
Our Mission
We create opportunities across Africa for rural entrepreneurs with tools and services to efficiently process, save, and sell more food.
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we specialize in postharvest technology solutions with a longstanding devotion to helping rural communities be self-sufficient in developing a locally sourced and nutritious food supply. By making appropriate postharvest tools and services more accessible, small businesses and farmers increase their incomes, more jobs are created, and Africa feeds herself and the world.
Our Approach
Postharvest Tools
Our tools help make processing crops and foods more efficient by reducing processing time, increasing output, improving food quality and decreasing postharvest losses. Our current portfolio includes a multi-crop grinder, peanut sheller and millet thresher. As we expand our programs, we focus on identifying existing technologies and developing local partnerships to make tools more accessible in rural communities.
Business Development & Training Resources
Postharvest technologies are just one step to helping rural communities increase their food production. We also work with entrepreneurs to develop and expand small businesses that provide crop and food processing services to farmers. Additionally, we train women farmer groups and entrepreneurs on business and marketing development, food science and safety, technical support, and value-added food production.
Who Benefits?
Rural Women
who spend a huge amount of time and effort in postharvest processing and are responsible for food preparation.
Empowering Women
When women have equal access to the tools and services that help them improve their postharvest productivity, entire communities are positively impacted. Not only are women able to produce more food for markets and increase their income opportunities, but they also reinvest more of their income into the health, education and well-being of their families.
Youth
who are transitioning from small farms and struggle with high unemployment.
Youth
Youth under twenty-five is the fastest growing demographic across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a rich opportunity for economic growth, given there is investment in training and development for the younger generation. More off-farm employment and improved agricultural labor is necessary to tap into the potential of the youth population.
SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
who lack investment to increase their ability to supply national food markets.
SMEs
Quality, affordable processing tools and service packages for small and medium enterprises are a missing link for rural communities to grow. Not only would the development of small-scale agricultural business help to strengthen rural markets but it can help to drive inclusive growth and increase the supply of nutritious food.
Impact
Food Security & Nutrition
By transitioning from traditional manual methods of processing food to improved postharvest technologies, rural communities are able to increase the quantity of food produced - both feeding their families and increasing their household income. Crops are less likely to be damaged and contaminated, resulting in higher quality food products available in domestic markets while making local access to nutritious food more reliable.
Inclusive Growth
When certain groups of people are held back in ways that make it more difficult for them to advance on an individual level, it also limits the economic potential of entire communities and nations. Growth must be shared by everyone–no matter their gender, age, or income level. With our tools and training we cultivate programs that are appropriate, effective, and accessible to all, particularly women, youth and small-scale rural entrepreneurs.
Diversified Incomes
Households can diversify their income sources by engaging with Bountifield programs. Tools can be rented out to nearby farms, increased yields can be sold at the market, and value-added products can be produced and sold as part of new and expanded food businesses. This increases incomes for families and improves not only their quality of life, but the quality of life of entire communities with more locally available food.
Over 750,000 people have benefited from Bountifield tools since our founding in 1981.
26,000 people with access to tools to produce food products through 2 Food Technology Centers in Malawi.
600 small-scale entrepreneurs took part in business and food safety trainings in 2019.
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Contact
Bountifield International
729 Washington Ave. N, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55401 | +1 (651) 632-3912 | info@bountifield.org | EIN: 41-1400421
© 2023 Bountifield International. All Rights Reserved | Bountifield International is a 501(c)(3) Organization.